Cornelius Sauvignon
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 2–7 years from vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Goat cheese tart, grilled snapper, roasted chicken with herbs
✨ Technical Specifications
The Cornelius Sauvignon represents the pinnacle of Scotchmans Hill's exploration into small-batch, barrel-influenced winemaking. Named in honor of the region's pioneering history, this wine is a sophisticated departure from standard tank-fermented Sauvignon Blanc, drawing inspiration instead from the textured, complex Fumé Blanc style of the Loire Valley and Graves. Sourced from low-yielding estate vineyards on the Bellarine Peninsula, the fruit benefits from cool maritime breezes and rich, black volcanic soils. Winemaker Robin Brockett employs wild yeast fermentation in seasoned French oak barriques, followed by several months of aging on fine lees with regular stirring. This traditional technique tempers the grape's intense herbaceousness, introducing a creamy texture, subtle smoky complexity, and a flinty minerality that reflects its unique coastal terroir.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1982 by David and Vivienne Browne on an erstwhile dairy farm, Scotchmans Hill stands as the pioneer and quintessential benchmark estate of Victoria's Bellarine Peninsula within the Geelong wine region. Perched atop the peninsula's extinct volcanic outcrop, the vineyards benefit from fertile black basaltic clays over limestone subsoils, complemented by maritime microclimates moderated by Port Phillip Bay and the Southern Ocean. Under the stewardship of long-tenured Chief Winemaker Robin Brockett, who joined the fold in 1988, the estate champions low-intervention viticulture certified under Sustainable Winegrowing Australia. Brockett's cellar philosophy prioritizes site-driven purity, native fermentations, sensitive French oak integration, and extended lees maturation. Scotchmans Hill produces distinguished cold-climate expressions, most notably its flagship Estate and Cornelius Chardonnay, tactile Pinot Gris, and estate Sauvignon Blanc, alongside celebrated regional ventures like the Henry Frost Riesling and approachable Jack & Jill tiers.
🍇 Grapes
Sauvignon Blanc
🍷 ABV
13.0-13.5%